David Akers wasn't the only player to hit the crossbar Sunday during the 49ers' 30-22 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

After his third-quarter touchdown catch, tight end Vernon Davis went to dunk the ball over the crossbar but ended up being Mutombo'd and falling back to the ground at Lambeau Field.

The replay of the missed dunk got a strong reaction when it was aired during the team's jubilant flight home.

Said Davis: "I heard the whole team just, 'Ha ha ha ha ha!' "

According to Davis, Randy Moss and Michael Crabtree – both of whom fancy themselves to be excellent basketball players – were his chief tormentors.

The spoiled celebration, however, shouldn't overshadow the touchdown catch. Davis had to go to his knees in front of two defenders, and the ball was thrown so low and fast by Alex Smith that either Davis was going to scoop it off the ground or it was going to skip incomplete.

Davis admitted it wasn't the type of catch he would have made early in his career. But he has worked on improving his hands and was catching passes from the JUGS machine Tuesday, traditionally a day off for players.

"That's something I've been working on," Davis said. "It's something you have to go out and train your eyes and hands to be able to grab that ball. But it's just been working over the years and having it on my mind that, 'Gotta go get it (the ball). Gotta go get it.' It's just training your mind and your body."

Davis said he hurt his foot during training camp and tweaked it again on the touchdown catch. When he went up for the dunk, Davis said, he felt a twinge "and it distracted me from getting the ball over."

Moss and Crabtree probably aren't buying that excuse.

Ball to Hall – The ball Akers kicked for a record-tying, 63-yard field goal is on its way to Canton, Ohio, to be loaned to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Akers' shoe will be there, too, but Akers needs it for a while. It's the only one he's broken in, and he'll continue to use it early this season. Once he works in a new shoe, the 49ers will send that to Canton as well.

Helmet's hurting – Lineman Joe Staley's helmet could use a good scrubbing. There are bloodstains on the padding along the brow, and the chin strap is caked in dried blood. He was wearing a splint on the bridge of his nose Tuesday after an existing gash – it happened during training camp – reopened on the first play Sunday.

The good news, Staley said, is that his nose isn't broken. The wound, which is constantly irritated by the bridge of his helmet, probably won't heal until the bye week in early November at the earliest.

Lee update – Punter Andy Lee had his right thumb protected Tuesday, the result of his attempted tackle of Packers return man Randall Cobb on Sunday. On coach Jim Harbaugh's orders, Lee declined to discuss the injury but said he'd play Sunday against Detroit. Lee is the holder on field goals and extra points.

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